10 rules and recommendations on what you should not wear to the bathhouse [+VIDEO]

Reader question:

Is it possible to take a bath on January 19, 20, 21?

Archpriest Andrei Efanov answers:

Good afternoon On church holidays, household matters should not prevent you from taking part in the divine service. If they interfere, they must be canceled and rescheduled and go to church, pray, if possible, confess and receive communion, because for a Christian on a holiday, church prayer and Communion are the natural center of the holiday, union with Christ. If planned tasks, including washing, do not interfere with church celebration and prayer, then they can be done by devoting the appropriate time to God and your soul.

On the Feast of the Epiphany, you must definitely come to church and not only take part in the liturgy, but also attend the Great Blessing of Water and take home holy water. “Holy water for Epiphany can be collected after the Divine Liturgy and the Great Blessing of Water on January 18 and 19. On the eve of Epiphany, on Christmas Eve, January 18, the water is blessed for the first time and begins to be distributed to believers. The water is blessed for the second time after the festive Liturgy, which takes place at night and/or in the morning of January 19. In some churches, water is distributed during these two days both day and night with breaks during services, and you can collect holy water for Epiphany almost around the clock. In other churches, where there are not so many people, water is distributed only immediately after the service and consecration or during the hours when the temple is usually open. It is better to clarify in advance how the distribution will be organized in the church where you are going to collect holy water for Epiphany” read more

How is the therapeutic effect achieved?

The bath is not superficial, but
warming up the body, which is achieved in several ways:

first: heating through the skin with hot steam passing through the pores;
second: wave - thermal radiation of stones in the heater;
third: active targeted impact on the surface of the body (and directly on problem areas) using a broom. Therefore, a steam room is many times more effective than a hot bath;

There is a fourth way! Everyone knows the expression “scorching cold”: if you douse yourself with cold water, the vascular system responds by expanding the capillaries - the thinnest blood vessels. And alternating heat and cold enhances this effect several times.

This is an excellent cardiovascular workout. But let's remember that this is a training session, not a record race! In order not to harm yourself, it is advisable to do without fanaticism!

Ancient Slavic rituals

The bathhouse played an important ritual role. It was heated for deceased ancestors, who were “invited” to take a steam bath before significant holidays.

It was mandatory to visit the bathhouse before and after the wedding. The births took place here. In addition, immediately after the birth of a child, a woman was not allowed to leave the bathhouse for several days. Our ancestors considered women in labor to be “unclean,” although modern doctors explain this tradition by the fact that the disinfecting properties of the air in the bathhouse are not inferior to the characteristics of our operating rooms.

There were special ritual days that were obligatory for visiting the bathhouse - after Maslenitsa, on Maundy Thursday and on Agrafena Bathing Day. On the eve of Ivan Kupala, various herbs were collected and used to make brooms. It was believed that every plant harvested on this day conveys its strength and positive qualities to a person.

The bathhouse was an ideal place for casting various spells and love spells. It was believed that if the newlyweds steamed with a broom, which was collected from the branches of seven willows bending over the water, then they would live a long life in love and harmony.

There were even special healer baths of two types: the first - to support life and health, the second - against disease and death.

Bath for colds: benefits and harms

To maintain the health and youth of the human body, experts recommend starting to visit the sauna and bathhouse.

The steam room has a unique beneficial effect on the body: stimulates regeneration processes, cleanses and strengthens blood vessels, relaxes the muscle corset, reduces the negative effects of stress, expands and cleanses pores, removes toxins, improves blood circulation and well-being.

Regular bathing procedures strengthens the heart and lungs, cleanses the respiratory system, and tones the skin. This is a wonderful prevention of colds, a means to strengthen the immune system and rejuvenate the body.

Fans of passive relaxation feel a boost of energy and vigor every time after visiting the steam room, so they are ready to go to the bathhouse every day.

According to many medical studies, with regular visits, the bathhouse actually has a powerful therapeutic effect on a person. The result of such a rest can be improved well-being, weight loss, normalization of blood pressure, and a decrease in insulin levels.

To get the maximum benefit from bath procedures, you need to know how many days a week you can visit the steam room:

The optimal frequency of visiting baths and saunas for beginners is once a week, and the duration of one procedure should not exceed 5 minutes.
People with heart and lung diseases can go to the sauna and bathhouse once every two weeks to gradually accustom the body to serious thermal stress.
Active bath attendants with good health can steam in a bathhouse up to 4 times a week, while the time spent in the steam room is halved.
When carrying out cosmetic procedures, visiting the bathhouse is enough only 2 times a week.

All bath procedures are carried out in stages, with visits to the steam room alternating with short rest breaks.

The first run prepares the body for temperature stress and relaxation, so it is the longest. The duration of stay in the steam room is from 10 to 15 minutes.

When you first visit the steam room, the body may react to the high temperature conditions by the appearance of burgundy spots. This suggests that the vessels are actively expanding and adapting to new conditions. For effective vascular training, it is recommended to alternate regular visits to the steam room with contrasting water procedures.

After the first run, it is necessary to cool the heated body and cleanse the skin. To do this, just take a warm shower and lightly cleanse your skin. This is followed by a rest break, during which massage procedures are allowed.

To replenish fluid in the body, you can drink any bath drink - warm tea, herbal decoction, fruit juice or clean water.

The duration of the rest period is from 7 to 12 minutes.

The second and third visits to the steam room last up to 8–10 minutes, this time is enough to increase sweating, start the internal cleansing of the body from waste and toxins, and improve the functioning of organs and systems.

During the rest break, a mask is applied to the skin, which will provide it with additional nutrition and hydration.

After the third visit to the steam room, you should take a warm shower, wash your hair thoroughly, and apply masks or lotions made from natural ingredients.

To accelerate detoxification of the body, after taking a shower, apply a scrub or cream based on sea salt and aromatic oils to the skin.

With careful preparation of the body, the number of visits to the bathhouse increases up to 6 times.

For most, going to the bathhouse and sauna has become a kind of ritual, a place for pleasant gatherings with close friends. In addition, the beneficial effects of pure steam and a heated bath broom leave a pleasant memory and a feeling of satisfaction.

A bathhouse for colds is especially useful at the very beginning of the disease, after hypothermia, when the initial symptoms make themselves felt in the form of a runny nose, sore throat, the first bouts of coughing, body aches and general weakness.

As a rule, when the first symptoms appear, body temperature remains normal or rises slightly (by less than one degree). To the question whether a bath is useful at the first signs of illness, the answer will be positive.

The main factors that affect the body in a bath are increased temperature and humidity. A sauna for a cold is no less useful than a Russian bath. Dry air allows you to maintain a higher temperature.

under the influence of hot steam, the pores of the skin open, intense sweating begins, during which the body is freed from the waste products of microorganisms that caused the disease;
Studies show that at elevated temperatures, the production of leukocytes is activated. These cells play a critical role in protecting the body from foreign bodies. Leukocytes formed in large numbers begin to actively destroy viruses and bacteria;
high temperature promotes the dilation of blood vessels, blood flow accelerates, the blood is more intensively purified from waste products of bacteria and viruses and removed from the body through the kidneys;
inhalation of moist air, especially if essential oils of eucalyptus or coniferous plants are used in the bath, has a beneficial effect on the organs of the respiratory system, helps get rid of mucus accumulated in the nose and bronchi, accelerates the treatment of runny nose and cough;
body aches, which often accompany a cold, go away if you sweat in a sauna or steam your body with a broom in a Russian bath.

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A bathhouse can also help cope with the consequences of an acute cold, such as a prolonged cough or nasal congestion. Many, including doctors, believe that if you steam regularly, you can completely forget about colds.

A visit to the bathhouse activates the body's defenses, its ability to resist infections, therefore it is a means of preventing ARVI, while it is also a pleasant procedure, improves mood and improves sleep.

For mild cold symptoms, warming up in a bathhouse will help completely cope with the illness at an early stage or significantly ease the course of the disease. But a bath for a cold will not be beneficial in the acute stage of the disease. If the development of a viral or bacterial infection is accompanied by a high temperature, it will be much more beneficial for the patient to stay in bed.

Trying to overcome the disease, the body itself increases the temperature, since this is detrimental to microorganisms. Hyperthermia increases the load on the cardiovascular system. Bath procedures at such a moment will lead to an even greater rise in the patient’s body temperature, acceleration of the heart, worsen the general condition and only aggravate the manifestations of the disease.

If a viral disease is accompanied by herpes, you should also not visit the bathhouse, even if your overall health is good. Exposure to moist, hot air can spread the infection to adjacent areas of the skin.

It is believed that in a bathhouse the body temperature can increase by 2 degrees. At the same time, the heart rate increases and the load on the body increases. If he is weakened by the disease, even in a mild form or in the initial stage, his response to this load will depend on his thermoregulatory capabilities.

Since these possibilities differ for different people, visiting the steam room when you have a cold should also take into account the individual characteristics of the body.

If a person is used to taking a steam bath, feels at ease in it and enjoys it, then it will also benefit him during a cold. If you are not accustomed to such procedures, and high temperatures and steam are not easily tolerated, then you should not resort to a bath if the body is already weakened by disease.

Therefore, it is not recommended for children to stay in the bathhouse for longer than 3-5 minutes. To avoid overheating, during the procedure you need to put a cap on the child’s head, and also do not forget to give him water more often. Pediatricians do not recommend taking children under three years of age to the bathhouse.

In order for the bathhouse to be beneficial for colds, you need to know and follow the rules for visiting it. The main rule is that bath procedures are only possible for colds without fever.

When visiting a bathhouse, a person’s body temperature will still rise, but if initially it was no higher than 37 degrees, then this will not worsen the state of health. On the contrary, with ARVI, raising the temperature by a couple of degrees due to the heat of the bath will allow the body to begin to destroy viruses.

To make the effect of the bath on the sick body more effective, it is good to use essential oils of eucalyptus, pine, and fir in the steam room. In combination with moist steam, they will have an inhalation effect and an antimicrobial effect on the respiratory system, which will also help in curing the disease. When asked whether it is possible to take a steam bath when you have a cough, doctors answer positively.

But they recommend doing this at the onset of a cold, as well as after recovery, when the cough is present as a residual phenomenon. When coughing, before entering the bathhouse and during breaks, it is recommended to drink a warm infusion of medicinal herbs.

the bathhouse must be well heated;
You should not enter the steam room more than three times;
You also don’t need to sit in the dressing room for a long time so that your body doesn’t become hypothermic;
contrasting procedures - dousing with cold water, swimming in a pool - must be abandoned;
To avoid overheating, it is recommended to wear a hat.

Rubbing will help enhance the healing effect of steam and high temperature. They allow you to intensify the process of sweating, as a result of which the cleansing of viral waste products through the pores of the skin will be more intensive, as well as their destruction in the body. The most effective mixture for this procedure is honey and salt.
Inhalation is an excellent way to cleanse the respiratory tract. For respiratory diseases, the use of essential oils helps well, especially eucalyptus, juniper, fir, pine, lavender, and geranium oils. The oil can be mixed with water and sprayed onto the heater, walls or shelves in the steam room. Essential oils can be replaced with dry or fresh herbs - mint, lemon balm, birch and eucalyptus leaves, juniper branches. The herbs are poured with hot water, allowed to brew, then this infusion is sprinkled on hot stones. A bath for coughs and runny noses allows you to clear the airways and facilitate the removal of phlegm if you add essential oils of medicinal plants to the action of temperature and moist steam.
In between visits to the steam room, you can use medicinal drinks made from medicinal plants - mint, chamomile, linden, teas with honey, lemon, raspberries, fruit drinks from cranberries and other fresh berries. They should be drunk hot.
A good remedy is a massage with a broom, which will increase blood circulation and more completely remove toxins. When coughing in a bathhouse, a birch broom helps. Eucalyptus and pine brooms disinfect the air in the steam room and enhance the inhalation effect of the steam room. Linden broom calms the nervous system and relieves tension.

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Finally

On what days was it forbidden to go to the bathhouse?

Bath procedures in Rus' have always been popular and played a significant role in the life of our ancestors. However, there were a number of taboos regarding washing and going to the bathhouse. Some were associated with the religious sphere, others with magical beliefs. So, when were Russians not recommended to wash?

On church holidays.

There was a saying: “Don’t wash on holiday, otherwise you’ll drink water in the next world.” Priests say that on church holidays, as well as on Sundays, it is necessary to devote oneself to God: on these days it is recommended to read prayers, visit temple, and help one’s neighbor.

In this regard, it is better to either finish worldly affairs in advance or postpone them until later. Therefore, it is better to wash and clean before the holiday arrives, in order to meet it clean. If you haven’t had time to do this, you can wash yourself in the evening after the service.

In the 17th century, for example, by royal decree all baths were closed on the eve of the all-night vigil, so that Christians would go to church and not to another place. The ban on “holiday” washing was also probably connected with the ban on physical labor: after all, in order to heat a bathhouse, it was necessary to chop wood, apply water and heat the stove. And this was serious work.

There are also days when washing and cleaning are considered obligatory in the Orthodox tradition. For example, Maundy Thursday in Holy Week before Easter, or Epiphany, when Orthodox Christians plunge into an ice hole, and those who do not have such an opportunity should take water procedures at least at home.

On “non-bath” days.

Our ancestors tried to go to the bathhouse only on certain days of the week. This was due to the belief in the bannik - a mythical creature like a brownie, who supposedly lived in every bathhouse and set its own rules for people. If those washing interfered with the bannik, he could become angry and punish the person - for example, skin him alive, pour boiling water over him, and even strangle him.

Monday was a forbidden day - on this day the bathhouse was at the disposal of the “owner”, and there was no place for people there. It was best to visit the bathhouse on Thursday or Saturday. As a last resort, you could wash yourself on Tuesday. It was not recommended to do this on Sunday for two reasons: the first was that Sunday was considered a church holiday, and the second was the belief that anyone who dared to wash on Sunday would get sick.

After midnight.

It was forbidden to wash in the bathhouse after midnight: according to legend, at this hour an evil spirit comes to visit the bathhouse attendant and they take a steam bath together.

In the "third par"

When there were a lot of people, they usually washed in the bathhouse in several passes. So, the third approach, or the so-called “third par”, was dangerous for a person. It was believed that in the “third steam” the banner itself was washed. It was necessary to make do with two passes or postpone the washing for another time.

Men forward.

The belief said that then all the sins and illnesses of their predecessors would be transferred to those who entered the bathhouse the next time. Therefore, women went to take a steam bath after the men.

If we put aside all superstitions, we can assume that men went to wash first because they were the main ones in the family, and thus they were shown honor.

Drunk.

A person who went to wash himself while drunk was also threatened with all sorts of punishment from the bannik. But I think the point is that the drunk could not have followed and either got burned, or got burned, or, say, fell head first on the rocks.

By the way, even in our time it is categorically not recommended to drink alcoholic beverages either before going to the bathhouse or during it, and this is due to the physiological characteristics of the body: for example, drinking makes the blood vessels dilate, and if you also steam at the same time, it can jump sharply pressure.

When to postpone going to the bathhouse

. If you have a toothache, you’ll get gumboil after a bath; otitis externa can easily turn into inflammation of the middle ear; an abscess on your finger won’t end well either. Even simple heating is contraindicated for inflammation and abscesses, and the thermal radiation of the stones will act on them like a microwave on an egg!

Bath is undesirable:

for severe diseases of the liver, kidneys and urolithiasis in the acute stage;
for any bleeding;
with exacerbation of stomach and duodenal ulcers;
with high blood pressure, tachycardia.

In general, in all exacerbations it is harmful, in all stable conditions it is useful. But the best way to understand whether you can go to the bathhouse is to see a doctor. He will tell you a lot that we have not mentioned: it is impossible to list all the restrictions and contraindications in one article, but we are talking about your health.

By the way: if at a very high temperature even in the steam room it’s cold and shivering, you’re late for the bathhouse! Go to bed immediately and call a doctor!

Bath day! How to go to the bathhouse correctly

Modern people often take baths lightly. Previously, going to the bathhouse was a kind of ritual, a sacrament, and had not only sanitary, but also sacred meaning. Now the expression “go to the bathhouse,” especially in the city, means that people gather to have fun, drink beer, beat a friend of a friend with the first broom they find in the store, and rub themselves with “something useful” to cleanse and rejuvenate their skin.

This approach, of course, does not reflect all the true advantages of the Russian bath. To bring maximum benefit to your body, you need to go to the bathhouse correctly.

Fees

First, you need to understand that not everyone can go into the steam room, since this is a serious procedure that carries a noticeable load. Thus, hypertensive patients, people with cardiovascular and oncological diseases, mastopathy, chronic diseases in the acute phase, infectious diseases, those suffering from mental disorders, and epilepsy should not take a serious steam bath.

You need to prepare properly for the bathhouse. The main thing you need to remember is that you can’t drink alcohol or overeat before the bath. But taking herbal tea with honey and lemon is a very good idea.

The main character is a broom

The main character in a Russian bathhouse is a broom. The most popular is birch; it is the easiest to prepare and buy. The aroma of birch leaves, native since childhood, calms the psyche and invigorates the body, birch greens perfectly cleanses the skin, relieves pimples and other inflammations, rejuvenates, birch decoction strengthens hair and makes it soft and silky. Another popular type of broom is oak. Oak has a good bactericidal effect, perfectly tones, strengthens the skin, hair and nails. One of the most fragrant brooms is linden. Under its influence, a person completely relaxes. But if you need to get rid of the remnants of a cold, annoying runny nose and cough, it is best to choose a eucalyptus or juniper broom. Fir and spruce brooms also cope well with colds. All these plants contain a “killer” charge of essential oils and phytoncides, and are excellent for chronic diseases of the bronchi, lungs and the entire respiratory system.

Bath accessories

Nowadays they hardly go to the bathhouse with ladles and basins, relying on those available in the steam room itself. But it won’t hurt to stock up on a hat and a washcloth. A felt hat will protect your hair from drying out and your head from overheating. In addition, it can add ambiance and mood - if you choose a hat from various funny series - in the form of a budenovka, Scandinavian horned helmets or jester's hats. A washcloth is an important part of a good wash. It is better not to take synthetic sponges to the bathhouse; they will stand out too much from the overall picture of everything natural. But washcloths made of loofah, sisal, straw, flax are what you need.

Body scrubs are good as cleansers in the bath - especially salt and honey, as well as special bath products - for example, thick soap. After the steam room, it is advisable to soften the heated skin with natural oils or cream.

Hot rules

You need to visit the steam room not anyhow, but according to the rules. Before entering, it is better to remove metal jewelry to avoid getting burned. It is also recommended to take a warm shower and wash off makeup. But you shouldn’t enter the bathhouse with wet skin, since moisture will interfere with profuse sweating. If possible, you should not bathe in a swimsuit or synthetic swimming trunks - the body does not breathe in them, and the swimsuits themselves quickly lose their appearance at high temperatures: the colors fade, the fabric stretches or, conversely, shrinks sharply.

Before entering the steam room, you need to “brew” the broom in a wooden tub or basin. However, you should not pour boiling water over the broom; it is better to use hot water and let it brew for 15-20 minutes in the steam room. You need to save the water from under the broom and rinse with it after all procedures so that the maximum amount of beneficial substances remains on your skin and hair.

Before you start steaming, you need to let your body get used to the heat and lie on a shelf. Soaring itself does not mean that you need to whip yourself and those around you with a broom as hard as you can. The broom should “caress”, collect heat, distribute it over the skin, relax, relieve tension, and naturally disperse the blood. You need to start with light spanking in the direction from the neck to the legs, from the spine to the sides. It is also necessary to clap your feet, especially the soles, on which the receptors responsible for the internal organs are located. Under no circumstances should you set records for “who can sit longer.” Everyone has their own heat threshold, games with heat can end badly. As soon as you feel that you want to go out, go out. It’s better to come in a few times for a short time than to have a heart attack after sitting in the steam room for half an hour. You also need to leave immediately if you feel weak, dizzy, or have a pounding in your temples. The maximum useful time spent in the steam room is 10-15 minutes, and even then this is for trained steamers. After you have warmed up well, you can plunge into cold water, or rub your body with snow. This “shock” procedure gives a powerful boost of vivacity and energy, but it is unlikely that you will catch a cold because of it.

A trip to the bathhouse should take approximately two hours: 3-4 visits to the steam room, a couple of simple 10-minute warm-ups, cosmetic procedures and tea. It is better to leave the tea feast as such, without switching to beer and, especially, strong drinks. The bath gives lightness, a surge of strength, cleanses the soul and body, and it is better to try to preserve these sensations for a long time.

Contraindications to bath procedures

Despite the obvious benefits of visiting a steam room, such procedures are contraindicated for many people.

Often the heating temperature of the air in the steam room exceeds 60 degrees, which can negatively affect weakened hair, sensitive skin and blood vessels, respiratory, cardiac and reproductive systems.

Before deciding on such a vacation, you should find out whether people who have some health problems can go to the bathhouse. After all, visiting a steam room can do more harm than good for them. The bath is contraindicated in the following cases:

acute cardiac and vascular diseases;
severe kidney pathology;
oncological diseases;
infectious skin diseases;
heat;
period of pregnancy and lactation;
postoperative period.

It is highly undesirable for men to abuse bath procedures, as they can cause dysfunction of the reproductive system and male infertility.

The optimal duration of the procedure depends on several indicators: the type of steam room, state of physical health, preliminary preparation and goals.

Experts recommend spending as much time in the bathhouse and sauna as necessary to ensure good sweating and warming up the body. Therefore, this meaning is individual for each person.

The main rule is not to harm your own health. If you experience discomfort or feel unwell, you must stop the procedure.

The optimal time to stay in the steam room in one session is from 4 to 25 minutes.

Contraindications for health reasons

Russian people are maximalists by nature. If he knows that the bathhouse is beneficial, then he tries to use it to the fullest, rushing to the steam room whenever he feels ill.

Bath and immunity

What is the preventive benefit of a bath after hypothermia? Cold slows down the human immune system. That's why we

(that is

. The faster, more active and aggressive antimicrobial cells - lymphocytes and leukocytes - the less chance bacteria and viruses have. Giving our “immune soldiers” vigor and speed is a task that the bathhouse copes with perfectly.

Bath procedures and herbal tea will help strengthen the immune system

The mechanism of action on the immune system is as follows: with an increase in body temperature, the activity of our defender cells increases. With hypothermia it decreases. If during a long stay in the cold without movement (for example, on winter fishing) the advantage is on the side of pathogenic bacteria and viruses, then in the bathhouse, thanks to deep heating, the body’s resources are rebuilt and deal a decisive blow to the enemy!

Bath and respiratory organs

The most effective effect of the bath is on the upper respiratory tract: both a runny nose and a cough (dry and wet) can be treated. The benefits for the respiratory system are multifaceted: here and

. But the main thing is that the body is activated in bath conditions. There is less oxygen in the steam room than outside. The blood becomes saturated with carbon dioxide, and breathing quickens. If a awake person in a calm state takes 15-20 full inhalations and exhalations per minute, then in a bathhouse - one and a half to two times more. A completely healthy person may experience signs of a runny nose or even begin to sneeze.

In a bathhouse, a completely healthy person may feel signs of a runny nose or even start sneezing.

This reflex sneezing under normal conditions is a reaction to hypothermia, but here it is a reaction to a sudden change in temperature and protection of the nasal mucosa. If you start warming up on the bottom shelf, this may not happen at all, but otherwise it will pass in a minute or two.

It is important to remember: if any inflammatory process is already going on in the body, a bath is excluded.

Let us allow ourselves a few recommendations:

what to spray on the stones for inhalation: mint, thyme, chamomile (decoctions), pine decoctions or natural turpentine (literally a few drops!);

what to drink in the bath: tea with mint, brewed breast mixture, tea or decoction of rose hips with honey. Hot drinks in the bathhouse are generally preferable. But you don't need a lot of honey. A spoon per glass is already a lot. Honey actively knocks on your heart, forcing it to work beyond normal. Yes, it has a calming effect at night. But in the bathhouse it’s the other way around! Tricky product. Heart valve disorders, diabetes, asthma - clear instructions: no honey is needed at all.

Broom technique:

large broom - birch eucalyptus;
small - juniper or large birch eucalyptus.

The arms of the one being hovered are extended forward or behind the head. We build up steam with a few strokes of a large broom, we also use it to sweep the chest, back and sides, and then we work precisely on problem areas: bronchi, throat, lungs - for prevention. And there is no need to deliberately hit the heart area (in fact, a good steam bath master should know anatomy), he will have to work in the bath anyway.

Other rules and restrictions

It used to be that people went to the bathhouse solely to wash themselves or to expel illness from the body. Now for many, the bathhouse has become a meeting place with friends, a means of communication and entertainment, a way to “see people and show yourself off.” All this is great, but you still need to remember some rules for visiting the steam room.

What not to do in the bathhouse

To avoid ruining your holiday with your own hands, or leaving the steam room with an injury, a headache or a bad mood, try to take into account the following recommendations:

Don't drink alcohol. High temperature already puts a serious strain on the body, and in combination with excessive libations it can cause cardiac dysfunction and other health problems.

Note! We are talking not only about strong drinks, but also about beer or wine. You can drink some time after the bath if you do not plan to return to the steam room.

If you feel very physically overworked or tired, postpone going to the bathhouse until you feel better. Not only will it not bring the desired pleasure, but there is also a danger of falling asleep on the bathhouse shelf. And we think it’s clear why you can’t sleep in a steam room - when you sleep, you don’t control your condition and the time you spend in the steam room and you risk getting heatstroke.

You can't sleep in the bathhouse

Postpone bath procedures if you just recently had a big dinner. And vice versa - if you are very hungry, have a light snack at least an hour before.
If you swam in the pool or took a shower before entering the steam room, dry your body thoroughly with a towel so that moisture on the skin does not interfere with sweating.
Avoid sudden changes in temperature without preparation - diving into a cold pool or snow, or staying in them for a long time.

For such extreme entertainment as in the photo, you need to prepare your body in advance - harden yourself

You should not stay in a hot bath for a long time. It is better to make several visits, alternating them with rest in the dressing room. When you first enter, do not immediately climb to the top shelf - get used to the heat gradually.
Never rush or make sudden movements in the steam room - act slowly and calmly, giving your body rest.
Don't compete with each other in your ability to withstand high temperatures and harsh blows from a broom. You also need to know how to steam properly.
To avoid overheating of the head, do not wet your hair before the steam room. It is best to wear a hat that will protect you from heatstroke.
But what you can’t go to the bathhouse with is various jewelry or watches. You should also take off your glasses - they won't be of any use anyway.

Separate advice exists for visiting public baths. For example, you should not walk barefoot in them, so as not to catch a fungus - take rubber slides with you. For the same reason, do not sit on benches or shelves without placing your own towel under you.

Don't forget about safety measures

And, of course, you need to think not only about yourself, but also about those around you. This means that you cannot visit the bathhouse if you have skin diseases or any other contagious diseases.

Bath and radiculitis

If you have radiculitis, you are simply doomed to a bath! Pre-deep warming of the body. Then you need to strongly steam your lower back and problem areas on the spine. After the steam room, rub laundry soap, finely ground on a coarse grater, into your lower back. You can use hot (but not too much!) clay coating - also after the steam room. You can rub in infusion of wild garlic.

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The procedure requires a fair amount of stamina from the steamer.

What to spray on the stones: a few drops of natural turpentine on the pile.

What to drink in the bath: regular and herbal hot tea.

broom - birch oak;
small - juniper or birch and spruce.

The work will require a fair amount of stamina from the steamer. But remember: this is a therapeutic procedure, not corporal punishment! Whip crosswise, periodically applying a hot leaf broom to the problem area. After steaming the lower back, apply a spruce broom to the problem area and “punch” the birch or oak needles.

Bath and rheumatism

For those suffering from rheumatism, a bath is recommended (and still recommended!), but very, very carefully. Ideal for combating this disease

. And not an electric one, but a wood-burning one - one that needs to be heated for several hours. Do you need

, achieved through thermal radiation of stones. A cool sauna (70°C) will allow you to stay in it for about 10 minutes, and the heat will reach problem areas. But here's what you need

, is to dive into an ice hole or a cool pool, swim in the snow or even douse yourself with cold water. The maximum that is allowed is a lukewarm shower, just below body temperature.

Only warm and hot drinks. Some medications prescribed for rheumatism reduce the reactivity of the adrenal glands, so it is better to wait a month after finishing the course. Otherwise, the result may be the most disastrous. In general, a bath at an early stage is better than medication during an exacerbation. Rheumatism is a serious thing. Talk to your doctor, he will prescribe a bath or sauna as part of the strategy to combat your illness and provide the necessary instructions.

The stern owner of the steam room

The steam room was both a clean and unclean room. Pure - because it was intended to cleanse the spirit and body: visiting it was a mandatory event before starting any significant undertaking.

On the other hand, the bathhouse was considered a kind of bridge between two worlds: the living and the otherworldly. Icons were never brought here and prayers were never read. Our ancestors believed that a mysterious creature lived in the bathhouse - Bannik, who at night received guests - forest evil spirits. That is why they never went to the steam room to wash after midnight. But even during the day, special rules were observed in the bathhouse: it was not customary here to make noise, raise your voice, or swear, since this was not to Bannik’s liking.

Bath and ODA diseases

ODA is not a poetic work, but a musculoskeletal system. He may have many illnesses, not to mention injuries. We remember the main thing: you can’t go to the bathhouse with inflammation! The banal flux there increases to the size of a pineapple. But muscle and tendon strains and bruises are here. But not ruptures: they can only be dealt with according to the doctor’s instructions!

After the steam room, muscle pain will go away

The bath will provide you with faster and improved blood circulation in the muscles; after it, bruises will resolve faster, pain from hematomas will be relieved, and swelling will subside. But! First, see a doctor. The steamer wants to bring you health, and not become your executioner. After all, he has a reputation and professional pride!

How to lose weight in a sauna

Forget about beer! The bath reduces the level of fluid in the body, and you need to be very careful with drinking. With reasonable gradual warming up, you can get rid of a kilogram or one and a half pounds of excess weight in one visit to the bathhouse. But if you try to achieve more, you will most likely do it to your detriment:

Your body is not a testing ground for implementing stupid ideas and conducting crazy experiments!
Everything in it is interconnected. Consult your doctor! You are disappointed? Alas. Eating excess weight is easier than getting rid of it. And if we are talking about metabolic disorders, then nothing should be done without a doctor who has his own picture and strategy for dealing with your sores. If only because the doctor is smarter. He knows what he's doing, but you don't always.

It is important to remember: the fight against fat (let's call a spade a spade) with the help of a bath is no less tiring and painful than exercise and diet. Only as a result of significant dehydration does the body give the stoker cells the command: “Burn fats!” And for this you need to take a good steam and not drink anything at all! Are you capable of this?

And one more thing

This paragraph was written at the request of the author by Doctor of Medical Sciences Ernest Anatolyevich Shcheglov.

I will say without unnecessary medical terminology, in simple and understandable language: drinking alcohol in general is an optional and risky thing, but drinking libations in a bathhouse is a risk not just for health, but for life!

Your heart and vascular system do not always signal problems that have arisen with pain or poor health, and even more so in the extreme conditions of a bathhouse. The bath dilates blood vessels. Alcohol too, but not for long, then it definitely shrinks them. The nervous system does not calm down, but is excited; it reacts to the surrounding temperature, pressure, body temperature, humidity.

Alcohol and sauna are incompatible!

Alcohol affects the diaphragm. If you start to hiccup in the bathhouse, this is the first sign that you shouldn’t drink. In addition, you will exhale the breakdown products of alcohol, and the steam room is a small room. You will voluntarily breathe in heated poison. Looking for a hangover five minutes after your first drink?

Heart attack and stroke are faithful companions of vodka in the bathhouse. If they don't come to your steam room 10 times, don't worry. They will wait in the wings if you drink strong drinks in the bathhouse. What about vodka - an ordinary cigarette can kill a person after a steam room, it’s enough for the stars to “not align.”

You have been warned. Some will listen, the majority - as always - will not. As sad as it is, alas, talking about alcohol in Russia is like a reminder of the rope in the house of a hanged man...